Golf: Montana to serve as host of fundraiser

NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana will serve as guest host of the annual Oaks Christian golf tournament Monday at North Ranch Country Club.

Montana, whose son Nick plays quarterback for the Lions, will help raise funds for the school's financial aid program. For the 2009-10 school year, nearly 40% of Oaks Christian students received need-based financial aid.

PGA pro Steve Pate will also join the festivities, providing pointers, hitting balls and talking golf. There will be a putting contest, a helicopter ball drop raffle and a "Beat the student golfer" contest featuring members of the Oaks Christian golf team. A new Mercedes-Benz or a 72-inch plasma television will be awarded to players who hit a hole in one. The day will conclude with an awards dinner featuring a silent and live auction.

For tickets and information contact Carol Borowitz at (818) 575-9204 or visit www.oakschristian.org.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Torres to compete at First Tee Open

Ruben Torres, a senior at the California Academy of Math and Science, will compete this weekend in the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. He will play alongside Champions Tour professional Denis Watson.

The First Tee Open is an official Champions Tour tournament that pairs 78 junior golfers with the same number of professionals. It begins Friday and will be televised nationally by the Golf Channel.

Torres, 17, began playing golf at 10 and recorded his first hole-in-one a year later on a par-3 hole in Los Angeles.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Reuben selected to participate in Walmart First Tee Open

Torres Reuben, a student at the California Academy of Math and Science, has been selected to participate in the Walmart First Tee Open, an official Champions Tour event Sept. 4-6 at Pebble Beach. The event will be televised nationally by the Golf Channel.

Reuben was one of 70 junior golfers from The First Tee selected to participate after qualifying July 14-18 in Rodgers, Ark. Reuben has been playing golf for seven years and has a 3.1 handicap.

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation that aims to impact the lives of youth by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhanching values through golf.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Dougherty emerges from playoff to win title

Kevin Dougherty of Vista Murrieta won a three-player playoff to capture the state golf title this afternoon. Dougherty edged Cole Seeger of Westlake and Michael Weaver of Clovis West, who had each tied Dougherty with rounds of two-under 70 prior to the playoff.

Dougherty, a senior, will play for Oklahoma State next season.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Three-player playoff to decide state title

Kevin Dougherty of Vista Murrieta, Cole Seeger of Westlake and Michael Weaver of Clovis West each shot a two-under 70 today at the Poppy Hills Golf Club in Pebble Beach to force a three-player playoff for the individual state title.

Carlsbad La Costa Canyon won the team title with a five-player score of 381, followed by Carmichael Jesuit (386), Westlake (388), Cardinal Newman (389), Great Oak (390) and Carmel (396).

Among the other local competitors, Chaminade's Nick Thomas, Riverside Poly's Bryan Bergna, Villa Park's Alex Bungert and Westlake's Jake Katz each shot a two-over 74 to tie for sixth place; Great Oak's Kevin Ruby shot a 75; Great Oak's Doug Head and Tommy Lozon each shot a 77; Westlake's Kevin Santos shot an 81; Westlake's Justin Edwards and Great Oak's Jared Hentilla each shot an 82; Great Oak's Matthew Jun shot an 85; and Westlake's Chris Doyle shot a 90.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Dougherty wins Southern California regional championship

After two days, a four-hour lightning delay and 18 holes, Kevin Dougherty of Vista Murrieta and Michael Weaver of Clovis West were still tied atop the leader board after shooting six-under-par 66s at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta.

But in a sudden-death playoff, Dougherty emerged the winner when he made a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

"It was the longest putt I've made in a while," said Dougherty, a senior who is bound for Oklahoma State.

Carlsbad La Costa Canyon won the team title with a five-player score of five-over 365 and Westlake finished second at 368 after winning a tiebreaker with Great Oak, which also shot 368.

The top three teams and top six individuals advanced to Wednesday's state championships at Poppy Hills Golf Club in Pebble Beach. The other individuals to advance were Rancho Bernardo's Sejun Yoon and Chaminade's Nick Thomas with 67s and Villa Park's Alex Bungert and Riverside Poly's Bryan Bergna, who emerged from a four-player playoff after shooting 68s.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: A frenetic day on tap for Granada Hills

Thursday could be a long but particularly rewarding day for Granada Hills' three seniors golfers.

It will start--weather permitting--with the resumption of play in the Southern California regional championship at 9 a.m. at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta. Play was suspended today after a freak lightning storm moved through the area, causing a four-hour delay.

When play concludes sometime between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., the Highlanders will have to hurry home to prepare for graduation ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

"It's not going to be an issue," said Granada Hills Coach Chris Archeta, who said his team had competed in the regional championship on graduation day five years ago.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' golf: Suddenly Sunny in Murrieta

The weather's nice at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta. It's cool with a slight breeze and the sun just poked through the clouds.

Too bad all the golfers have already dispersed.

It's been about an hour since officials announced that play would be suspended in the Southern California regional championship in the wake of a four-hour delay caused by a freak lightning storm that was accompanied by rain and pebble-sized hail.

Mike Sweeney, director of rules and competitions for the SCGA, said players would have to get back on the course by 4 p.m. to finish play by sundown. Well, it's not even 3 p.m. and the weather is certainly playable.

But Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said teams had to be given time to secure hotel rooms, leading to the suspension of play. Some teams are staying in nearby hotels and some are going home and coming back Thursday to resume play at 9 a.m.

The forecast?

"They're confident the weather will clear up," Staunton said.

--Ben Bolch

Golf: Lightning suspends Southern California regional championship

The Southern California regional championship was suspended this afternoon following a four-hour delay caused by a freak lightning storm. The 124 boys' golfers will resume play at 9 a.m. Thursday at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta.

"I just have never seen anything like this," Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said.

Most competitors had played only five or six holes by the time play was halted.

"It's fine. No big deal," said Servite junior Patrick Cantlay, who was preparing to hit his tee shot on the seventh hole when he had to come off the course. Cantlay was at even through six holes.

The golfers passed the time by playing cards, eating sandwiches and chatting in the clubhouse. Some players erupted in laughter after particularly close lightning strikes. There was intermittent rain and pebble-sized hail throughout the afternoon.

"Looking at the Doppler [radar], it was looking like more of the same," said Mike Sweeney, director of rules and competitions for the SCGA. The official decision to suspend play was made by Marie Ishida, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation.

Players will resume play where they left off Thursday, with some having left their balls on the course. The top three teams and top six individuals will advance to the state championship June 10 at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach.

--Ben Bolch